Table Of Content© Entomologica Fennica. 30 October 2002
Kikimora palustris Eskov, 1988 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) found in
Europe
Seppo Koponen, Julia Hoffmann & Yuri M. Marusik
Koponen, S., Hoffmann, J. & Marusik, Y. M. 2002: Kikimora palustris Eskov,
1988 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) found in Europe. — Entomol. Fennica 13: 129–
133.
Kikimora palustris Eskov, an erigonine spider known hitherto from Siberia
only, was found in northernmost Finland. Males and females were trapped in
a palsa mire in Enontekiö, 1999. Redescription with diagnostic figures is
given, and taxonomy, distribution and ecology briefly discussed. Slit sense
organs were found on basal part of male cymbium.
Seppo Koponen, Zoological Museum, Centre for Biodiversity, University of
Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland; E-mail: sepkopo@utu.fi
Julia Hoffmann, Zoological Museum, Centre for Biodiversity, University of
Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland; Present address: Käsivarrentie 9974,
Iitto, FIN-99300 Muonio, Finland
Yuri M. Marusik, Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Russian
Academy of Sciences, Portovaya Str. 18, Magadan, 685000 Russia; E-mail:
[email protected]
Received 21 November 2001, accepted 12 March 2002
1. Introduction 2. Redescription
The monotypic erigonine genus Kikimora and Because Eskov’s (1988) description is in Russian,
the species K. palustris were described from Si- a brief redescription is given here. The name
beria by Eskov (1988). The type locality is Kikimora is from Russian folklore and means an
Putorana Plateau, Central Siberia, and the range old, ugly woman living mainly on bogs. The type
given by Eskov (1988) included Putorana, material from Putorana Plateau, examined by YM,
Evenkia, and upper Kolyma. In this paper, we is deposited in the Zoological Museum of the Mos-
report Kikimora palustris for the first time from cow State University.
Europe, give a redescription of the species,
present diagnostic drawings and SEM micro-
graphs on copulatory organs, and discuss sys- Kikimora palustris Eskov, 1988: 685, figs. 5: 1–5.
tematic relationships of the genus. Also the ecol-
ogy and distribution of the species is briefly dis- Medium sized, light coloured linyphiid. Male cara-
cussed. pace unmodified, slightly elevated in cephalic re-
130 Koponen et al. • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 13
Fig. 1. Male palp of Kikimora palustris, retrolateral
view, after Eskov (1988). Scale 0.1 mm.
gion. Chelicerae unmodified. Tibial spines —
2222, longer than tibial diameter. Metatarsi I–IV
with trichobothrium. TmI — c. 0.5. Male palp (see
Figs. 1, 3a–g): Patella swollen, tibia with 2
trichobothria and massive prolateral strongly
curved apophysis with broad tip with saddle-like
depression (Figs. 3a–b). Paracymbium large with
wide leaf-shaped proximal part (Figs. 1, 3b). Short
and flat suprategulum without apophysis; column
with long frontally directed membrane (Figs. 3d–f).
Fig. 2. Female epigyne of Kikimora palustris. — a.
Embolic division complicated (Figs. 3d–g), with
Ventral view. — b. Posterior view. — c. Lateral view.
spine-like embolus and two flat and spine-like Scale 0.1 mm.
apophyses in apical part. Internal flat apophysis
of embolic division with scale-like surface (Fig.
8 ¥¥) of Kikimora palustris were found in pitfall
3f). Basal part of embolus with rounded outgrowth
traps (Table 1). Both males and females occurred
(Figs. 3d–e). Median part of embolic division with
in the early summer as well as in the autumn. Nine
finger-like process/apophysis (Figs. 3e–f). Basal
individuals (4 ££, 5 ¥¥) were trapped in a rela-
part of cymbium prolaterally with about 8 slit
tively open, slightly hummocky moist mire habi-
sense organs (Figs. 3a, c). Epigyne (Figs. 2, 3h–i)
tat where the vegetation reached a height of about
without fovea, and with wide median plate. Pos-
10 cm (maximum 20) and consisted mainly of
terior margin of epigyne rounded. Anterior part
compact Sphagnum mosses (S. fuscum dominat-
of epigynal openings with short fissure. Recepta-
cles large and oval. Male body length 1.85–2.50,
female 2.38–2.63 mm. Carapace yellow-brown,
Table 1. The records of Kikimora palustris in the
length/width 0.98–1.10/0.73–0.75 in male, 1.00–
palsa mire at Iitto, Finland, 1999. Habitat types: 1 =
1.15/0.70–0.75 in female. Promargin of chelicerae
open, moist Sphagnum fuscum mire, 2 = open, moist
with four teeth. Legs yellow-brown, thick (rela- mire with low Betula nana, 3 = scrub mire with Betula
tion tibia I length/ diameter — 4.0). nana and Salix (see text for full description of the
habitats).
Capture period Habitat type (No.) Specimens
3. Data from Finland
8.VI.–27.VI. 1 2 ££
In summer 1999, a field study on spiders was car- 10.VI.–27.VI. 2 3 ££ 2 ¥¥
ried out by the author JH in the palsa mire at Iitto 8.VI.–27.VI. 3 1 £
14.VIII.–2.IX. 1 1 £ 1 ¥
in Enontekiö Lapland, Northwest Finland (68∞43´N 2.IX.–4.X. 1 1 £ 4 ¥¥
21∞25´E, altitude 400 m a.s.l.; Finnish Grid 2.IX.–5.X. 2 1 ¥
763:27). During that time 16 individuals (8 ££
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.13 • Kikimora palustris (Araneae) in Europe 131
ing), Empetrum nigrum, Rubus chamaemorus, Gongylidium (slightly swollen patella, wide
Vaccinium uliginosum, Betula nana, Andromeda retrolateral tibial apophysis directed upwards); but
polifolia and Vaccinium microcarpum (Habitat the embolic division of Gongylidium is more sim-
type No. 1). Six specimens (3 ££ 3 ¥¥) were ple (cf. figure 21 in Millidge [1977] and figure 12
found at a location where rather open, moist and in Hormiga [2000]). By palpal conformation
slightly hummocky Sphagnum moss mire with Kikimora is rather similar to Asthenargus hel-
low B. nana (maximum height 20 cm), V. veticus Schenkel and A. paganus (Simon) (cf.
uliginosum, R. chamaemorus and A. polifolia bor- figures 154 and 155 in Millidge [1977]). All three
ders onto a wet Sphagnum lindbergii moss carpet species have a complicated embolic division bear-
with R. chamaemorus and Eriophorum russeolum ing spine/finger-like lateral apophysis.
(Habitat type No. 2). One male fell into a trap Slit sense organs have been found commonly
located in dense, 40 cm high dwarf birch (B. nana) on spider appendages (see e.g. Ivanov [2000] and
and willow (Salix) scrub, where the ground was pages 39–42 in Barth [2001]) but seldomly on the
moist and hummocky. The undergrowth there con- palpal cymbium. For example, in the ground spi-
sisted of moss (mainly Sphagnum russowii), E. der Haplodrassus signifer (C.L. Koch), family
nigrum, V. uliginosum and V. vitis-idaea (Habitat Gnaphosidae, slit organs were found only on the
type No. 3). The palsa mire at Iitto is only a few coxal lobe, trochanter and femur of the pedipalps
hundred m in diameter and represents a mosaic of (Ovtsharenko 1981). Marusik et al. (in prep.) have
different habitat types. Individuals of Kikimora found slit organs on male palpal tibia of the
palustris could be found neither in dry or ex- linyphiid Praestigia groenlandica Holm. Plate
tremely wet locations nor in the surrounding birch 58 D in Hormiga (2000) presented a SEM micro-
forest. graph of the cymbium of Sciastes truncatus
Abundant co-occurring species included (Emerton) showing similar slit organs as on
Pardosa hyperborea (Thorell), P. atrata (Thorell), cymbium of Kikimora (Fig. 3c). Although these
and Alopecosa aculeata (Clerck) (Lycosidae), two genera seem to be related (cf. Eskov 1988)
Mecynargus sphagnicola (Holm), Semljicola and share peculiar characters such as cymbial slit
faustus (O.P.-Cambridge), Diplocentria bidentata organs, they are rather different by the shape of
(Emerton), Pelecopsis mengei (Simon), Walckenaeria embolic division: complicated in Kikimora (Fig 3d–f)
nudipalpis (Westring), Hilaira nubigena Hull, and simple in Sciastes (cf. figures 25 and 58 in
Bolyphantes luteolus (Blackwall), and Agyneta Hormiga [2000]). They differ also by shape and
similis (Kulczynski) (Linyphiidae), and Robertus relative size of paracymbium, and by modified
lyrifer Holm (Theridiidae). protegulum in Sciastes (figures 58C, E and F in
Kikimora specimens are deposited in the Zoo- Hormiga [2000]). Probably slit sense organs can
logical Museum, University of Turku and in JH’s also be found on the palpal cymbium in other
private collection. linyphiid groups. They may be just overlooked.
Intensive spider studies have been carried out
in nearby areas, e.g. Kilpisjärvi in Enontekiö
4. Discussion (Palmgren 1965), Torneträsk in Sweden (Holm
1950) and Kevo in Utsjoki, Finland (Koponen
Eskov (1988) regarded Kikimora to be very simi- 1977). The absence of Kikimora palustris in these
lar to the genus Sciastes Bishop & Crosby, 1938 studies is possibly caused by its ecological require-
(sensu Millidge 1984). These genera differ from ments, and by the scarcity of palsa mires studied.
each other by leg chaetotaxy, number of tri- The 16 individuals captured at Iitto indicate that
chobothria on palpal tibia, shape of tibial apophy- the occurrence of K. palustris is not accidental,
sis and of paracymbium, length of apophyses of but that there is a living population, although the
embolic division and by shape of insemination species might be generally rare and confined to a
ducts in the median plate (cf. also figure 25 in certain kind of habitat. The habitat of K. palustris
Hormiga 2000). in Siberia seems to be boggy, sparse Larix for-
Among North European linyphiid genera, the ests, open Sphagnum and Carex mires and mossy
male palp of Kikimora is somewhat similar to tundra (Eskov 1988, Esyunin et al. 1995). In Fin-
132 Koponen et al. • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 13
Fig. 3. SEM micrographs
on copulatory organs of
Kikimora palustris. a–g.
Male palp. — a. Tibial
apophysis and cymbium
with location of slit sense
organs, dorsal view. — b.
Tibial apophysis and para-
cymbium, retrolateral view.
— c. Slit sense organs on
basal part of cymbium. —
d–f. Embolic division from
different angles — g. Tip
of embolic division. h–i.
Female epigyne. — h.
Ventral view. — i. Pos-
terioventral view. Abbre-
viations in the Figure: a =
apophysis, e = embolus,
fp = finger-like process, m
= membrane. Scale bars:
a = 100 mm, b, d–f, h, i =
50 mm, c = 10 mm and g
= 5 mm.
Fig. 4. The distribution of
Kikimora palustris: 1 —
Enontekiö, 2 — South
Yamal, 3 — Putorana, 4
— Evenkia, 5–6 — Aborigen
& Kontakt stations (Kolyma),
7 — Magadan, 8 — Kam-
chatka, 9 — Chukotka.
land, almost all specimens were found in open Acknowledgements. The research of JH and YM in Fin-
and moist parts of a mire situated in the subarctic land has been financed by CIMO, Helsinki (JH) and the
zone north of the boreal taiga forest belt. Academy of Finland (YM, project 49225). YM was also
Nowadays Kikimora palustris is known, in sponsored in part by the Russian Foundation for Basic Re-
search (01-04-48989). Valuable information about slit or-
addition to northernmost Finland, sparsely
gans given by G. Hormiga (Washington DC), B. A. Huber
throughout Siberia from South Yamal to the Rus-
(Vienna), T. Kronestedt (Stockholm) and P. T. Lehtinen
sian Far North-East and Kamchatka (Marusik et
(Turku), and comments by G. Hormiga, T. Kronestedt and
al. 1992, Eskov & Marusik 1994, Esyunin et al. N. Scharff (Copenhagen) on an earlier version of the manu-
1995; see Fig. 4). script are greatly acknowledged.
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol.13 • Kikimora palustris (Araneae) in Europe 133
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